Former Tennessee guard BJ Edwards has been ruled out for SMU’s play-in game against Miami (OH) on Wednesday night, according to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel. The game between the Mustangs and the Redhawks will determine the 11-seed in the Midwest Region, which will play Tennessee in a first-round matchup on Friday in Philadelphia.
Edwards has been battling an ankle injury and has not played for the Mustangs since Feb. 25 in a loss to Cal. He was questionable to be back for the NCAA Tournament, but won’t be suiting up for SMU here on Wednesday night.
Edwards, a graduate of Knoxville Catholic, played in 14 games during his lone season with the Volunteers in 2022-2023. He scored 17 total points on 6-of-12 shooting, including a 2-of-5 mark from the three-point line. Edwards also added eight total rebounds, six assists, one block, and one steal during that stretch.
He then transferred to the Lone Star State to play for SMU, where he has been for the last three seasons. After averaging 1.2 points per game during his season with Tennessee, Edwards averaged 3.7 PPG during his first season with SMU, 9.9 PPG during his second season with the Mustangs, and is currently averaging 12.7 PPG this season.
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He’s started all 28 games that he’s played in for SMU this season, averaging 12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. All three of those statistics are career highs for the 6-foot-3 guard. Edwards is the third-leading scorer on the team this year.
“BJ was always a good player,” Tennessee associate head coach Justin Gainey said on Wednesday. “When he was here, we really loved him. We didn’t want to see him go. (We) understood his decision, but always saw the vision and the potential that he had. And it’s awesome to see him kind of living that out and doing what he does. And just excited for him, excited for his family, and wish him and hope he gets healthy.”
There are no current Volunteers who were on the same Tennessee team as Edwards during his lone year in Knoxville. Former Tennessee forward Colin Coyne, though, was a teammate of Edwards during the 2022-2023 campaign. Coyne currently serves as a graduate assistant with the Volunteers.
Miami (OH) will square off against SMU in a First Four game at 9:15 p.m. ET on Wednesday night. The winner will move into the official bracket field as the 11-seed in the Midwest Region. Six-seed Tennessee will then take on the winner at 4:25 p.m. ET on Friday, Mar. 20, in Philadelphia, PA.
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